Monk's Paradise
Monk's Paradise

Movie spotlight

Monk's Paradise

1971
Movie
81 min
Japanese

A genius gambler and born hunter is a Buddhist monk by occupation. A raunchy comedy about a lecherous monk who, despite serving the solemn Buddha, keeps breaking the precepts one after another.

Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Director: Paul GlickmanGenres: Drama

Plot Summary

In the late 1960s, a group of bohemian artists and activists living in a commune called "Monk's Paradise" grapple with their ideals, relationships, and the societal changes occurring around them. The film explores their attempts to create a utopian existence away from the mainstream, but also delves into the internal conflicts and disillusionments that arise within the group.

Critical Reception

Monk's Paradise is a largely forgotten independent film that gained some cult following for its raw depiction of communal living and its counter-culture themes. It is often praised for its authenticity and candid portrayal of the era, though some critics found its narrative to be meandering and its overall message somewhat indistinct.

What Reviewers Say

  • Appreciated for its authentic portrayal of the hippie commune lifestyle.

  • Noted for its exploration of idealism versus reality within a counter-culture setting.

  • Some found the pacing slow and the plot lacking a clear direction.

Google audience: Audience reception is not widely documented, but available comments suggest it's viewed as an interesting, albeit flawed, time capsule of the late 60s/early 70s communal living experiments.

Fun Fact

The film was shot on 16mm and often screened at underground film festivals, contributing to its cult status among enthusiasts of experimental and independent cinema from the era.

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